Western wood experts at your seruice

I T'S LIKE having your own staff of lumber experts. engiI neers, architects, grading experts and building code aces.

As a seller of western wood, you will find the Western Wood Products Association's field services staff stationed strategically across the country is ready to work for you. Each regional office staffed by a field service representative embodies WWPA in that area and represents the association's industry-wide reputation for expertise and authority in the lumber products field.

Story at a Glance

Field reps rcady to help those selling western woods... problem solvers... quality, grade, technical experts ... service includes training, literature...

For example, let's say that your best contractor customer calls in a problem with the last load of lumber you sent to his building site. He's upset because the questions he has about the shipment are serious enough to delay his project. And because he's upset, you're upset. So what do you do?

You can take two aspirin and moan for awhile. Or if the lumber in question is from aWWPA full marketing member mill, you can call a WWPA ficld representative. And you can do so with the knowledge that no matter what services your problem might require of him it is extremely probable that your only cost will be the phone call you make.

Besides being available in emergency situations such as the one already srrggested, the field services men are available for a wide variety of other s6rvices.

These include but are by no means limited to: o Conducting in-house training for your employees on both management and labor levels. o Helping you interpret grade rule book and offering recommendations for proper use. o Providing technical, educational and promotional literature to help those using wood products.

. If appropriate, helping with legitimate and authorized substitution ofgrades and species.

Like your accountant, like your attorney, WWPAs field services staff should be viewed as a resource for your business. Unlike your accountant and your attorney, the meter doesn't start ticking when a field services man picks up the phone.

ORRECT lumber storage and handling pays off. There are three kinds of lumber storageoutside yard storage, protected yard storage andjob site storageand a correct way to do each.

Doing it right pays off in at least four different ways. (1) It improves handling and aids in inventory control. (2) It protects the lumber from fungi and diminishes the likelihood ofinsect attacks. (3) It helps prevent degrade and weathering. (4) It helps maintain the lumber's appearance and dimensional stability.

When outside yard storage is used, the lumber should be stacked on stringers, off the ground. This allows air circulation. It also helps in forklift handling. Dry lumber should be stacked with the paperwrapping in place. Any rips in the paper must be repaired. Because plastic or canvas tarps can contribute to a moisture imbalance by trapping moisture inside the bundle, they should be used only for short periods.

Solid piled unseasoned lumber may begin to deteriorate if it is stored outdoors for an extended time in warm weather. The first sign of this is stain or mold on the surface, with serious decay developing later in the center ofthe bundle. To halt deteroriation and minimize degrade, the lumber has to be restacked on stickers and allowed to air dry.

Finally, to the extent it's possible and practical, lumber stocks should be rotated, with the first stock received being the first stock to leave the yard.